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G Leevi Meriläinen - Kärpät U20, U20 SM-sarja (2020, 71st, OTT)

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Finished the regular season with a .934 SV% then had a not so good playoffs with a .900 SV% in 5 games as they were eliminated by Lukko in a best of 3 finals. I would guess he’s loaned out to a Mestis team next year and he should have a good shot at making Finland’s WJC team.
 
Really curious to see how he does at the WJC. Flying under the radar.
 
Senscore said:
Impressive showing at the World Junior Summer Showcase this afternoon. Finland beats Team USA White squad 4-3. 32 saves.

His stock has only risen. Hard to believe he was unranked at the draft. Seems Senators scouts knew something others didn't.
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What other goaltenders are with the Finns? Is J Markkonen there?
 
Looking like a real solid pick given the Sens had many failed post draft grades.

Going to Kingston should be really good for his development as well.
 
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DJB said:
Looking like a real solid pick given the Sens had many failed post draft grades.

Going to Kingston should be really good for his development as well.
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Cant wait to see how his game translates to North America. Smart move by him to transition over to bump start his career. Looks like my next road trip will be Kingston and Belleville. Glad i got family in that area.
 
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He garnered some rave reviews while playing for Finland at the World Junior Summer Showcase in July. He looks like the front-runner for world junior team, leapfroggin Joel Blomqvist. Leevi just got sent down last week to Kingston after attending Ottawa's camp and earned a win in his first preseason OHL start.
 
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For me he is still a mystery, in, what level of prospect he is.

Senators seems to trust, believe in his abilities, goalies usually
wont get their contracts given that quickly,
especially European goalies.

Congrats from that award!
 
Complete letdown in this tournament but hopefully he can turn things around and prove himself. Tsemppiä!
 
Svedu said:
Complete letdown in this tournament but hopefully he can turn things around and prove himself. Tsemppiä!
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Let Hilli work his magic with him for couple of months, he should get better pretty quickly.

Blomqvist sucked badly in last August too when he played couple of pre season games for Kärpät. Completely different goalie by the time when the regular season ended.
 
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JJTT said:
Let Hilli work his magic with him for couple of months, he should get better pretty quickly.

Blomqvist sucked badly in last August too when he played couple of pre season games for Kärpät. Completely different goalie by the time when the regular season ended.
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Good post! This sounds promising! I really hope he bounces back.
 
Svedu said:
Complete letdown in this tournament but hopefully he can turn things around and prove himself. Tsemppiä!
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Yeah I wasnt totally shocked though, he wasnt very good in Kingston last year either. Seems like a reach for the sens, after watching him my expectations are very low. If he ends up over in North America that will be a pleasant surprise.
 
With his sixth shutout of the season today, he now leads Liiga goalies in GAA with a paltry 1.78 mark and in save percentage with 92.56 rate. This is as a 20-year-old rookie in Finland's top pro league. After a disappointing year with Kingston and losing the No. 1 job at world juniors last August has Meriläinen put himself back on the top goalie prospect radar for the Senators?

It seems like the return to Finland has agreed with Meriläinen. Is it the cooking? The coaching? The saunas? All three?
 
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Ryan Van Horne said:
With his sixth shutout of the season today, he now leads Liiga goalies in GAA with a paltry 1.78 mark and in save percentage with 92.56 rate. This is as a 20-year-old rookie in Finland's top pro league. After a disappointing year with Kingston and losing the No. 1 job at world juniors last August has Meriläinen put himself back on the top goalie prospect radar for the Senators?

It seems like the return to Finland has agreed with Meriläinen. Is it the cooking? The coaching? The saunas? All three?
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Coaching. Hilli has worked with Tim Thomas, Nicklas Bäckström, Pekka Rinne, to name a few. Basicly everyone who he has coached has turned out to be great at least on the European level.

On Meriläinen, he looks very good every game. Started 15 games in a row and is one of the biggest reasons why Kärpät has been winning lately. Probably needs some time in the AHL next year but looks like a future NHL goalie.
 
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JJTT said:
Coaching. Hilli has worked with Tim Thomas, Nicklas Bäckström, Pekka Rinne, to name a few. Basicly everyone who he has coached has turned out to be great at least on the European level.

On Meriläinen, he looks very good every game. Started 15 games in a row and is one of the biggest reasons why Kärpät has been winning lately. Probably needs some time in the AHL next year but looks like a future NHL goalie.
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Thank you for the insight. Ari Hilli, I must remember that name.
 
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